26Court may give mediation directions

26 Court may give mediation directions (1) At a mention date or a hearing of an application for a personal safety intervention order or for the variation or revocation of a personal safety intervention order, if the court considers in the circumstances of the case that mediation may be appropriate, the court may give— (a) a direction that requires the parties to attend a mediation assessment; or (b) subject to subsection (2), a direction that requires the parties to attend mediation; or (c) a direction that requires the parties to attend— (i) a mediation assessment; and (ii) if the matter is assessed as suitable for mediation, a mediation. (2) The court must not give a direction under subsection (1)(b) unless it has received a mediation assessment certificate that specifies that the matter is suitable for mediation. (3) If the court gives a direction under subsection (1), it may adjourn the proceeding to allow for the mediation assessment, the mediation or the mediation assessment and mediation (as the case requires) to occur. (4) A direction given under subsection (1) applies to all parties to the proceeding except— (a) an applicant who is a police officer; and (b) an applicant who is not the affected person and who the court has excluded from the direction.